top of page

Welcome To The LaSalle County Historical Society

Discover LaSalle County's Rich History

The LaSalle County Historical Society campus is located on the banks of the historic Illinois & Michigan Canal and is situated in the quaint village of Utica, Illinois. Bordering beautiful Starved Rock State Park with an annual attendance of 2.2 to 2.8 million, it sits at the heart of one of Illinois’ top tourism destinations. Utica is easily accessible and conveniently located near where Interstates 80 and 39 meet. The Society’s exhibits and activities include: Canal Warehouse, Heritage Center, Canal Market, Blacksmiths Shop, One-Room Schoolhouse, our Annual Burgoo Festival and Wild Bill Hickok Days and much more.

Canal Warehouse Utica, IL _June 2023_Docha Photography-16.jpg
Canal Warehouse.JPG

Hours of Operation

​

Museum Complex open to the public Friday through Sunday 12-4pm and by appointment Monday-Thursday by emailing office@lasallecountyhistoricalsociety.org (two weeks notice needed for staffing).

​

Admissions

There is no admission to visit our museum, but we ask that you consider making a donation while enjoying our many exhibits and buildings that house our local history!  Those donations are what keeps our museum doors open to the public.

​

​

E.B. Thornton Endowment 

The LaSalle County Historical Society announced a $25,000 Endowment has been established in memory of local historian, preservationist and long-time supporter of the Historical Society, Edmund B. Thornton. The Endowment, received from the Edmund B. Thornton Foundation, will be used for reimbursement of compensation paid for interns. The Officers and Board of Directors along with the Staff and Members of the Society are honored to have received this generous gift from Susan and Taylor Thornton, the wife and daughter  of Edmund, on behalf of the Thornton Foundation.

Beginning in 2025, the Society will utilize endowment funds to hire interns who will assist in the collection, preservation, and education of LaSalle County history. College students studying history, or a related subject will have priority in filling these part-time or short-term paid positions. Important duties such as assisting with collections research & digitization projects, drafting articles, and helping with Museum events are examples of jobs interns perform.

EB 2.JPG

2024 Events

  • 54th Annual Burgoo Festival
    54th Annual Burgoo Festival
    Sat, Oct 12
    North Utica
    Oct 12, 2024, 11:00 AM – Oct 13, 2024, 5:00 PM
    North Utica, 101 E Canal St, North Utica, IL 61373, USA
    Oct 12, 2024, 11:00 AM – Oct 13, 2024, 5:00 PM
    North Utica, 101 E Canal St, North Utica, IL 61373, USA
    Join the LaSalle County Historical Society for our 54th Annual Burgoo Festival. One of Northern Illinois largest and longest running Fall Festivals occurring every Columbus Day weekend. Our famous Burgoo Stew is slow cooked along the I & M Canal and served only on Sunday.
  • Utica Garden Club Plant and Vendor Faire
    Utica Garden Club Plant and Vendor Faire
    Sat, Jun 08
    North Utica
    Jun 08, 2024, 9:00 AM – Jun 09, 2024, 4:00 PM
    North Utica, 208 S Clark St, North Utica, IL 61373, USA
    Jun 08, 2024, 9:00 AM – Jun 09, 2024, 4:00 PM
    North Utica, 208 S Clark St, North Utica, IL 61373, USA
    Join the Utica Garden Club for their annual plant sale and vendor faire! The UGC will have plants, herbs, and flowers available for purchase and the LCHS Canal Market will host vendors with vintage, antique, plants, and garden themed vendors!
  • Wild Bill Days
    Wild Bill Days
    Sat, May 25
    North Utica
    May 25, 2024, 12:00 PM – May 26, 2024, 4:00 PM
    North Utica, 101 E Canal St, North Utica, IL 61373, USA
    May 25, 2024, 12:00 PM – May 26, 2024, 4:00 PM
    North Utica, 101 E Canal St, North Utica, IL 61373, USA
    Join the LaSalle County Historical Society as we celebrate the life and times of famous LaSalle County Native, Wild Bill Hickok. A live eight scene re-enactment of Wild Bill Hickok's life will take place 2pm on Saturday and Sunday.
  • Antiquin' Weekend
    Antiquin' Weekend
    Sat, Apr 27
    North Utica
    Apr 27, 2024, 11:00 AM – Apr 28, 2024, 5:00 PM
    North Utica, 210 S Clark St, North Utica, IL 61373, USA
    Apr 27, 2024, 11:00 AM – Apr 28, 2024, 5:00 PM
    North Utica, 210 S Clark St, North Utica, IL 61373, USA
    The LCHS Canal Market will have vintage and antique vendors set up throughout the weekend!

LCHS Business Partners

THE GREATNESS OF A COMMUNITY IS MOST ACCURATELY MEASURED BY THE COMPASSIONATE ACTIONS OF ITS MEMBERS

THANK YOU TO OUR LOCAL BUSINESS MEMBERS!  WITH YOUR SUPPORT WE ARE ABLE TO PRESERVE LOCAL HISTORY!

LaSalle - 90.44.4.tif

LASALLE

EUREKA SAVINGS BANK
HARTAUER INSURANCE
LASALLE STATE BANK

XPO

Peru - P00638.jpg

PERU

DUFFYS AUTO SALES
EUREKA SAVINGS BANK
LASALLE STATE BANK

Mendota - 2008.29.1.jpg

MENDOTA

EUREKA SAVINGS BANK

Utica - P00485.jpg

UTICA

JOHN & RINA'S

LASALLE STATE BANK

LODI TAPHOUSE

THE ROCK AND SOUL

THE VILLAGE OF NORTH UTICA

UTICA BUSINESS ASSOCIATION

BRUCE & OLLIES

STONEHEAD LEATHER

JOY N' EDS 

​​

Streator - P01780 (1).jpg

STREATOR

BECOME THE FIRST BUSINESS TO JOIN FOR STREATOR

Ottawa - P01404.jpg

OTTAWA 

DUFFYS AUTO SALES

Main Street Cedar Point.jpeg

CEDAR POINT

BECOME THE FIRST BUSINESS TO JOIN FOR CEDAR POINT

Marseilles.JPG

MARSEILLES

BECOME THE FIRST BUSINESS TO JOIN FOR MARSEILLES

Seneca.JPG

SENECA

BECOME THE FIRST BUSINESS TO JOIN FOR SENECA

Tonica.jpeg

TONICA

BECOME THE FIRST BUSINESS TO JOIN FOR TONICA

Oglesby.JPG

OGLESBY

EUREKA SAVINGS BANK

STARVED ROCK MEDIA

Earlville.JPG

EARLVILLE

BE THE FIRST BUSINESS TO JOIN FOR EARLVILLE!

Contact Us

Thanks for submitting!

14695571_10154263837507946_6292015645373
bottom of page